"What do you want to be when you grow up?" "An Artist!" was always my reply. Working with textiles has been my lifelong journey. I have developed and practiced my needle and fiber skills for more than 40 years.

While studying Northern Illinois University from 1970 to 1973, I tried my hand at almost every medium in the Fine Arts Department. Painting and weaving were my favorites. In 1974 I earned my Associates of Arts Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Kishwaukee College in Malta, Il.

After college and while raising a family I worked in alterations, tailoring, and custom sewing (making everything from wedding ensembles to tipis). After moving to the North Shore in 1986 I supported my family for several years by weaving birch bark baskets and sewing original designs in fur and leather.

In 1994 I made the choice to narrow my focus to beads and fiber, to develop my "bead paintings" as a personal means of artistic expression. Explorations of this patient medium lead me to designing special fabrics for many of my pieces. Working in this unique medium continues to be artistically challenging, exciting, and rewarding.

Surface Design Association

Member 2010

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

Committees - 2006 to present

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

Board of Directors - 2000 to 2006

Grand Marais Art Colony

Board of Directors - 2000 to 2002

Grand Marais Art Colony

Member - 1998 to 2005

Textile Center of Minnesota

Member - 2002 to present

Upper Midwest Bead Society

Member - 1997 to present

Lines Into Shapes (October 2011)

Art Center of Estes Park, CO

Land By Hand: Fiber Artists Explore Place (Sept 2011 - June 2012)

Textile Center Touring Art Exhibition

Featured Artist (June 2011)

The Grand Hand Gallery, St Paul, MN

Surface Design Association Member Exhibit (June 2011)

Katherine E Nash Gallery, U of M, Minneapolis, MN

"The Teapot Redefined" (2010)

Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA

"Shiny Is My Favorite Color" (September 2009)

University of St.Thomas, St Paul MN

Minnesota Botanical (August 2009)

The Grand Hand Gallery, St Paul MN

"Venus: Poets and Fiber Artists Reflect" (September 2008)

North End Art Gallery, Superior, WI

"Women Of Fiber" (July 2007)

Last Chance Gallery, Lutsen, MN

"Left-Handed Love Stories", Featured Artist (February 2007)

Lizzards Gallery, Duluth, MN

"A Common Thread" (January 2007)

Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN

"Vanishing Landscapes" (March 2006)

Ripple River Gallery, Aitkin, MN

"Crossing Borders" Tour of Studios, Guest Artist (October 2005 & 2006)

Lutsen, MN

"Materialized" (November 2004)

Sivertson Gallery, Duluth, MN

Grand Marais Art Colony Instructors Show (2004-2005)

Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

"The Cat's Meow" (January 2003)

Mary Vincent Gallery, LaGrange, IL

"Time In Place", Featured Artist (August 2002)

Ripple River Gallery, Aitkin, MN

"Great Northern Beadwork" (September 2002)

Copper County Arts Center, Hancock, MI

"Images From The North Shore" Invitational (September 1999)

Flanders Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, MN

Surface Design Journal (Winter 2010/2011)

Surface Design Association

500 Beaded Objects (2004)

Lark Books, New York

Peace Calendar 2003 (2002)

Syracuse Cultural Workers, Syracuse NY

Beaded Embellishment by Clark & Atkins (2002)

Interweave Press

"Stitching A Sense of Place In Beads" (2000)

Beadwork Magazine, December Issue

Artist Fellowship (2011)

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

Artist Support Grant (2010)

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

Artists Initative Grant (2005)

Minnesota State Arts Board

Special Merit Award (2004)

Jeane Pearce Walker Art Show, "Storm!"

Second Place Award (2003)

Superior Shores Competition, Plein Aire Paint-off

Career Development Grant (2002)

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

Juror "Great Northern Beadwork" (2002)

Copper County Community Arts Council

Career Opportunity Grant (2001)

Minnesota State Arts Board

Emerging Artist Fellowship (2000)

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council